Wide mouth container and closure having integral opening means

ABSTRACT

An improved seal between a wide mouth and its closure is obtained by providing a continuous resilient exterior skirtlike flange depending from the lip of the container and a corresponding flange on the closure. The closure flange has an annular rib which sealingly engages and forces the continued container flange resiliently inwardly. A score line above the rib and a tear tab integral with the portion of the closure below the score line combine to permit the lower portion of the closure flange to be removed to facilitate removal of the remaining portions of the closure from the container.

United States Patent lnventor Stafford D. Collie Kansas City, Mo.

Appl. No. 788,368

Filed Jan. 2, 1969 Patented Jan. 26, 1971 Assignee Phillips Petroleum Company a corporation of Delaware WIDE MOUTH CONTAINER AND CLOSURE HAVING INTEGRAL OPENING MEANS [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,320,993 5/1967 Motsenbocker 150/.5 3,347,407 10/1967 Coolidge et al 220/54 Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney-Pendleton, Neuman, Williams & Anderson ABSTRACT: An improved seal between a wide mouth and its closure is obtained by providing a continuous resilient exterior skirtlike flange depending from the lip of the container and a corresponding flange on the closure. The closure flange has an annular rib which sealingly engages and forces the continued container flange resiliently inwardly. A score line above the rib and a tear tab integral with the portion of the closure below the score line combine to permit the lower portion of the closure flange to be removed to facilitate removal of the remaining portions of the closure from the container.

WIDE MOUTH CONTAINER AND CLOSURE HAVING INTEGRAL OPENING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a wide-mouth container and closure assembly having improved sealing characteristics. The invention has particular application to containers, such as those formed of thin, flexible thermoplastic material, where it is sometimes difficult to obtain a tight seal between the widemouth container and the closure. The invention permits the use of an aluminum closure of a type which may be applied on existing production equipment at fast speeds. Not only is there an effective, tight seal between the container and the closure which will be maintained intact during normal handling of the assembly, but the closure may be removed easily and is suitable for reclosing the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a wide-mouth container and closure assembly is provided, the container having side portions extending upwardly and terminating in a lip defining the mouth of the container. A resilient, continuous, skirtlike, exterior flange depends downwardly from this lip and diverges outwardly from the side portions of the container. The closure includes a top portion which spans and closes the mouth of the container and overlies the container lip. Integral with this top portion and depending downwardly therefrom is a continuous flange extending circumjacent the container flange. The closure flange has a continuous inwardly formed annular rib which'sealingly engages and forces the container flange resiliently inwardly.

The closure flange has a peripheral score line spaced above the rib, and a tear tab which is integral with the portion of the closure below the score line permits the lower portion of the closure flange to be removed first so that the remaining portions of the closure may then be easily removed from the container. These remaining portions may be repositioned to reclose the container when desired.

It is preferred that the score line have end portions which traverse the sealing rib of the closure flange and that these end portions extend to the side edges of a second tear tab immediately adjacent the first tear tab. If desired a third tear tab on the opposite side of the second tear tab may be provided with the first and second tear tabs being integral with the portions below the score line and the second tear tab being integral with the portions above the score line of the closure flange. Thus either the first or the third tear tab may be employed to remove the lower portions of the closure flange, and the remaining portions of the closure may then be easily removed by lifting the second tear tab.

The seal and connection between the container and closure are quite tight: However, if desired, a positive locking action may be obtained between the closure and the container by forming the lower extremities of the closure flange inwardly to lock under the container flange. Also, if desired, an annular sealing rib may be provided on this extremity to engage the sides of the container below the extremities of the container flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a wide-mouth container and closure assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of the container with the closure removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same portion of the container with the closure in place;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container and closure assembly showing the manner in which the lower portion of the closure flange may be removed initially to permit subsequent removal of the remaining portions of the closure from the container; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a container and closure assembly, the closure having a slightly modified structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFTHE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 there is shown an assembly 10 comprising a widemouth container 12 and a closure 14. The container 12 is a thin single walled container formed of a resilient flexible plastic material such as, for example, high density polyethylene. The container 12 has a bottom portion 16 which inthe illustrated embodiment is flat, and side portions 18 extend upwardly from this bottom portion and diverge outwardly terminating in a lip 20 defining the mouth 22 of the container. (See FIG. 2) Extending downwardly from the lip 20 is a continuous exterior skirtlike flange 24 which diverges with respect to the side portions 18 of the container body. The lip 20 of the container thus is the bite portion between the upwardly extending side portions 18 and the downwardly depending exterior flange 24 of the container.

Since the container is formedof a resilient flexible plastic material, it is preferred that there be a reinforcement adjacent the container lip 20 and flange 24. This reinforcement, which may take the form of an inwardly formed channel-shaped reinforcing rib 26, rigidifies the container side portions 18 so that an improved seal may be obtained between the container and closure. The more rigid structure is also more easily handled on automatic sealing equipment.

The closure 14 is formed of a very thin, readily-formable 'sheet metal such as aluminum. This closure has a top portion 28 which includes a recessed central panel 30, an upwardly extending inner flange portion 32, and an upwardly extending lip-bridging portion 34. The recessed central panel 30 is preferably flat and of the type which may be printed for identifying the contends of the container 12. The upwardly extending flange portion 32 is of the same angular configuration as the side portions 18 of the container 12, and this inner flange portion is adopted to fit rather snugly within the side portions 18 of the container adjacent the lip 20 of the container as best illustrated in FIG. 3. The outwardly extending lip-bridging portion of the top portion 28 not only bridges the lip 20 of the container, but it preferably conforms with the lip and is in close engagement therewith.

Extending downwardly from the lip-bridging portion 34 of the top portion 28 is a continuous flange 36. This closure flange 36 is disposed in circumjacent juxtaposed relationship with respect to the container flange 24. It will be noted that the degree of divergence between the exteriorly disposed flange 36 and the inner flange portion 32 of the closure is substantially less than the degree of divergence between the flange 24 of the container and the side portions 18 of the container. This is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In fact, the flange 36 of the closure may be parallel to the inner flange portion 32, or it may actually converge inwardly toward the inner flange portion 32. This angular difference between the container and closure flanges results in a tight gripping of the container flange between the flange 36 and flange portion 32 of the closure.

The exterior flange 36 carries an inwardly formed continuous annular rib 38 which sealingly engages and forces the container flange 24 inwardly as best illustrated in FIG. 3. This annular rib preferably lies in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the lip-bridging portion 34. The combination of the resilient, normally diverging flange 24 of the container and the inwardly formed annular rib 38 of the closure results in a very tight sealing contact between these two members on the exterior of the container:

The engagement between the closure 14 and the assembly is so tight, in fact, that means is preferably provided to facilitate the removal of the closure from the container. For this purpose, the portion of the exterior closure flange 36 abovethe annular rib 38 is scored along a line 40. The line 40 extends substantially around the flange 36 except in the area 42, where instead of joining, the two ends 400 and 40b of the score line traverse the rib 38. Integral with the lower portion of the flange 36, Le, the portion of flange 36 below the score line 40, are a pair of tear tabs 44 and 46, each of which has a side extending to and aligned with a respective one of the score line end portions 40a and 40b.

Disposed in juxtaposition between the tear tabs 44 and 46 and having its two sides extending to and aligned with the score line end portions 400 and 40b,respectively, is a third tab 48. Thus the tab 48 is integral with the upper portion of the flange 36, Le, the portion of the flange above the score line 40.

In order to remove the closure 14 from the container 12, the user merely grips one of the tear tabs 44 or 46 and tears the flange 36 along the score line 40 to separate the lower portion of the flange 36 from the upper portion of this flange. This is illustrated in FIG. 4. It will be noted that the lower portion of the flange 36 is the portion containing the sealing rib 38 (except for the portion of the rib 38 extending across the tab 48), and with this sealing rib removed, the flange 24 of the container may spring outwardly, and there is no longer a tight seal between the closure 14 and the exterior of the container 12. The user may then grip the tab 48 and pull upwardly to remove the remaining portions of the closure 14 from the container 12.

The closure as just described is intended to hold an internal pressure of about 7 lbs. p.s.i. In order to positively lock the closure in place against greater internal pressures, the bottom portion of the closure flange 36 may be formed inwardly beneath the lower extremity of the container flange 24. A structure of this type is illustrated in FIG. 5.

The closure flange 36 in the modified arrangement of F IG. not only has a first inwardly formed annular rib 38, but it has a second inwardly formed annular rib 50 which is parallel to the annular rib 38 and sealingly engages the container flange 24 below the line of engagement with the annular rib 38. In this embodiment the inwardly extending lower extremity of the closure flange 36 includes a first portion 52 which extends inwardly beneath the flange 24 and a second portion 54 which extends downwardly from the locking portion 52. This second portion .54 may carry additional annular ribs 56 and 58 which sealingly engage the side portions 18 of the container.

It will be appreciated that whether the flange has one annular sealing rib 38 or several as illustrated in H6. 5, the ends 40a and 40b of the score line 40 should traverse all of the sealing ribs. In this way, during the initial opening operation, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the user merely grips one of the tear tabs 44 or 46 and tears away the bottom portion of the closure flange 36 which contains all of the annular sealing ribs except for those portions of the ribs which extend across the central tab 48. With the gripping pressures released and locking formations (if any) removed, the user may open the container merely by lifling'the tab 48 to which the remaining (upper) portions of the closure are attached. The container may be reclosed by merely repositioning the remaining portions of the closure over the mouth of the container with the closure inner flange portion 32 again fitting snugly within the mouth of the container.

The container constructed in accordance with this invention features an improved sealing arrangement between the container and closure assembly permitting the two to be held tightly together. The lid may be applied at fast speeds on existing equipment, and it is able to withstand normal handling abuse. The structure features an easy-opening device whereby the bottom portions of the closure may be removed to facilitate removal of the closure from the container.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that many additional modifications, changes, and various details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

lclaim: IV A wide-mouth container and closure assembly, compris ing a container having side portions extending upwardly and terminating in a lip which defines the mouth of said container, and a continuous, skirtlike, exterior flange depending downwardly from said lip and diverging from said side portions; and a closure having a top portion spanning and closing the mouth of the container and overlying said container lip, and a downwardly depending continuous flange extending circumjacent said container flange and having a continuous, inwardly formed annular rib disposed entirely above the lower most extremity of the container flange and sealingly engaging and forcing said container flange resiliently inwardly, said closure member flange portion having a peripheral score line spaced above said rib, and a tear tab integral with the portion of said closure below said score line, whereby the lower portion of said closure flange may be removed to permit subsequent removal of the remaining portions of the closure from said container.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said closure top portion includes a recessed central panel and an upwardly extending flange portion in snugly fitting relationship with the interior surface of said container side portions adjacent said lip.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said container is formed of a resilient, flexible plastic material and said closure is formed of thin sheet metal.

4. A wide-mouth container and closure assembly, comprising a container having side portions extending upwardly and terminating in a lip which defines the mouth of said container, and a continuous, skirtlike, exterior flange depending downwardly from said lip and diverging from said side por' tions; and a closure having a top portion spanning and closing the mouth of the container and overlying said container lip, and a downwardly depending continuous flange extending circumjacent said container flange and having a plurality of continuous, inwardly-formed annular ribs, at least one of said ribs sealingly engaging and forcing said container flange resiliently inwardly, said closure member flange portion having a peripheral score line spaced above said rib, and a tear tab integral with the portion of said closure below said score line, whereby the lower portion of said closure flange may be removed to permit subsequent removal of the remaining portions of the closure from said container.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein at least one of said ribs sealingly engages and forces said container flange resiliently inwardly, and at least another one of said ribs sealingly engages the side portions of said container below said container flange.

6. A wide-mouth container and closure assembly, said container being formed of a resilient, flexible material having side portions which extend upwardly to a wide-mouth lip, and having a continuous skirtlike exterior flange depending downwardly and diverging outwardly from said side portions from said lip, said closure including a top portion having a recessed central panel, an upwardly-extending flange and an outwardly extending lip-bridging portion, and a downwardly depending flange portion disposed in circumjacent juxtaposed relationship with respect to said container flange and having at lease one continuous inwardly formed annular rib sealingly engaging and forcing said container flange inwardly, said do sure flange having a peripheral score line spaced above said rib and having an end portion which traverses said sealing rib, and a tear tab integral with the bottom portion of said closure below said score line, said tear tab being disposed below said rib and having a side which connects with said score line end portion, whereby the lower portion of said closure flange may be removed to permit removal of the remaining portions of the closure from said container.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the lower extremities of said closure flange portion are formed inwardly and lock under said container flange.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,557,99 Dated January 26, 1971 Inventor(,{) Stafford Collie It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 55, the colon should be a semicolon end "However" should be --however-- Column 2, line 36, "contends" should be --contents-- Column l, line 59, "lease" should be --least-- (In Claim 6) Signed and sealed this 22nd day of June 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A wide-mouth container and closure assembly, comprising a container having side portions extending upwardly and terminating in a lip which defines the mouth of said container, and a continuous, skirtlike, exterior flange depending downwardly from said lip and diverging from said side portions; and a closure having a top portion spanning and closing the mouth of the container and overlying said container lip, and a downwardly depending continuous flange extending circumjacent said container flange and having a continuous, inwardly formed annular rib disposed entirely above the lowermost extremity of the container flange and sealingly engaging and forcing said container flange resiliently inwardly, said closure member flange portion having a peripheral score line spaced above said rib, and a tear tab integral with the portion of said closure below said score line, whereby the lower portion of said closure flange may be removed to permit subsequent removal of the remaining portions of the closure from said container.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said closure top portion includes a recessed central panel and an upwardly extending flange portion in snugly fitting relationship with the interior surface of said container side portions adjacent said lip.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said container is formed of a resilient, flexible plastic material and said closure is formed of thin sheet metal.
 4. A wide-mouth container and closure assembly, comprising a container having side portions extending upwardly and terminating in a lip which defines the mouth of said container, and a continuous, skirtlike, exterior flange depending downwardly from said lip and diverging from said side portions; and a closure having a top portion spanning and closing the mouth of the container and overlying said container lip, and a downwardly depending continuous flange extending circumjacent said container flange and having a plurality of continuous, inwardly-formed annular ribs, at least one of said ribs sealingly engaging and forcing said container flange resiliently inwardly, said closure member flange portion having a peripheral score line spaced above said rib, and a tear tab integral with the portion of said closure below said score line, whereby the lower portion of said closure flange may be removed to permit subsequent removal of the remaining portions of the closure from said container.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein at least one of said ribs sealingly engages and forces said container flange resiliently inwardly, and at least another one of said ribs sealingly engages the side portions of said container below said container flange.
 6. A wide-mouth container and closure assembly, said container being formed of a resilient, flExible material having side portions which extend upwardly to a wide-mouth lip, and having a continuous skirtlike exterior flange depending downwardly and diverging outwardly from said side portions from said lip, said closure including a top portion having a recessed central panel, an upwardly extending flange and an outwardly extending lip-bridging portion, and a downwardly depending flange portion disposed in circumjacent juxtaposed relationship with respect to said container flange and having at lease one continuous inwardly formed annular rib sealingly engaging and forcing said container flange inwardly, said closure flange having a peripheral score line spaced above said rib and having an end portion which traverses said sealing rib, and a tear tab integral with the bottom portion of said closure below said score line, said tear tab being disposed below said rib and having a side which connects with said score line end portion, whereby the lower portion of said closure flange may be removed to permit removal of the remaining portions of the closure from said container.
 7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the lower extremities of said closure flange portion are formed inwardly and lock under said container flange. 